Yeah I’ve just noticed that a second ago. 140 was showing it was coupled up. Definitely a glitch or a train fault. Journeycheck is saying the 08:53 to Southend vic will be formed of 5 instead of 10 coaches. That’s the problem solved.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Greater Anglia Bombardier Aventras (Class 720): Technical discussion and introduction
- Thread starter absolutelymilk
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
50002Superb
Established Member
Great news about 502.
Updated list of those yet to be in service following its introduction:
720104 Derby
720141 Derby
720143 Derby
720503 Derby
720504 Derby
720505 Derby
720510 Derby
720516 Derby
720534 Derby
Be interesting to see if any are more are likely to come South soon.
Updated list of those yet to be in service following its introduction:
720104 Derby
720141 Derby
720143 Derby
720503 Derby
720504 Derby
720505 Derby
720510 Derby
720516 Derby
720534 Derby
Be interesting to see if any are more are likely to come South soon.
Yes I’m very glad they’re putting the recent ones delivered to ilford straight into passenger service. That’s now 4 in under a week great record. I reckon they’ll be focusing more on the 730s for a short while though, only time can tell. Now only 9 more to
1D54
Member
- Joined
- 1 Jun 2019
- Messages
- 923
Without wishing to derail a super thread, what are the 9 please?
185143
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2013
- Messages
- 4,783
Listed in post #3062 above.
Just been on 720502 and thought it smelt very new. The fact that it is, would explain it!
It's on the Braintree services again today, or it was 15 minutes ago at least.
It’s now working 2F24 08:36 to Colchester town. You should next ride 144x140 1N18 10:18 to Clacton.
9 more 720s to enter onto the GEML.
185143
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2013
- Messages
- 4,783
Hoping to get those back from Romford.
3973EXL
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 2,597
10/12 5Q68 Q path schedule amended destination of Willesden TMD
GBRf operated so 720 move if it runs?
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
GBRf operated so 720 move if it runs?
Realtime Trains | 5Q68 1244 Derby Litchurch Lane to Willesden T.M.D | 10/12/2024
Real-time train running information for 5Q68 1244 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Willesden T.M.D on 10/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
It might be a 730, if not hopefully it’s 1 of the 9 remaining 720s.10/12 5Q68 Q path schedule amended destination of Willesden TMD
GBRf operated so 720 move if it runs?
Realtime Trains | 5Q68 1244 Derby Litchurch Lane to Willesden T.M.D | 10/12/2024
Real-time train running information for 5Q68 1244 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Willesden T.M.D on 10/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
3973EXL
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 2,597
ROG do the 730 moves as per 5Q72 to Wembley IC Depot
Which day does that run ?
3973EXL
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 2,597
730209
Realtime Trains | 5Q72 1000 Derby Litchurch Lane to Wembley Inter City Depot | 10/12/2024
Real-time train running information for 5Q72 1000 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Wembley Inter City Depot on 10/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Peter Sarf
Established Member
+
It has all gone very quiet since these posts at the end of November - over a month ago. Have any more 720s made it to London (Willesden ?) for testing and acceptance ?.
I need an excuse to get out and burn some fat off that I seem to have gained for some reason
.(oooh goody I seem to have found a use for that "smiley").
Nope not at the moment. I have no idea on when the 9 remaining units will be moving out of derby yet. The most recent ones in service is 502, 144, 139, 140 & 137 around from late November to December. It is not needed right now to complete the rest of the fleet. There’s like 124 out of 133 on the network enough for evening peak hour & Stansted express.+
It has all gone very quiet since these posts at the end of November - over a month ago. Have any more 720s made it to London (Willesden ?) for testing and acceptance ?.
I need an excuse to get out and burn some fat off that I seem to have gained for some reason
(oooh goody I seem to have found a use for that "smiley").
Last edited by a moderator:
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Thanks, I suspect (fear) there is no operational urgency to get the last nine into action.
Wondering whether there may be something contractual?
If an operator / rolling stock company decides to defer commissioing and related remediation activities, until after a period of storage, it seems reasonable that the operator / rolling stock company (rather than the manufacturer) should be liable for any additional costs arising. Otherwise the manufacturer would be liable for the costs of retaining a team to support commissioining and perform any resulting remediation, and also for maintaining related commissioning / remediation facilities, for longer than would otherwise have been necessary, had the trains been commissioned immediately following handover.
And so there may be a clause in the contract along the lines of the manufacturer, not being liable for remediation costs arising from commissioning activities beyond a fixed period after handover to operator / roling stock company (for commmissioning).
Is this a thing?
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Conjecture.
But it could be.
Now if GA do not believe they will need these last nine or so units for a very long time then they might just write of the "risk" you refer to.
After all it has taken the manufacturer so long to get them made/delivered/commissioned that the TOC/DfT may no longer be contractually obliged to take them on ?. I can imagine a bean counter saving money now rather than looking at the long term - and they may well be correct.
On the other hand I do think the looming demand is there - especially in the case of GA where pressure could be taken off the 745 fleet (there are not enough 745s)..
I am hoping/assuming that the reality is that the manufacturer sees its priority as getting other recently manufactured fleets (730 and 701s) out of the door. After all these last nine 720s might be the worst of the delinquents.
I would say that as far as the manufacturer goes (Bombardier back then) there seemed to be an aspiration to build the units as fast as possible. Hoping for the best teething trouble wise seems to have resulted in the need to just park up delinquent units in sidings away from Derby for rectification later as the manufacturing capacity at Derby could not be compromised. I think Bombardier took on too many orders. Now Alstom are saddled with the consequences.
Did I say 701s ? - now there is plenty of food for conjecture there !.
All I know for sure is that there seemed to be a surge of sidelined 720s in to service last November (2024) and now a lull.
As always an interesting view of things, and begs the question of how reliable these units have been since their late arrival in November?
If they have performed as well as the rest of the fleet, then the issues may have been minor or - more likely given previous comments - the new management at Derby wanted then fixed properly before release.
Does anyone have any info on how well they have performed since introduction?
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
104, 141, 143 / 503, 504, 505, 510, 516, 534 are the remaining nine.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
I have not heard bad reports and I have seen the latest entrants in service I believe.
But Derby will most likely have picked the least worst units to deliver first.
My money would be on 503, 504 & 505 being particularly hard to get going as they are three out of five of the earliest 720s built so have festered the longest. But then 502 made it into service in late November iirc.
Conjecture for sure - tho that doesn't necessarily make it wrong (or right
)!I had the 701 saga in the back of my mind also - that's where things could get really 'interesting' (as in ancient chinese 'blessing - 'may you live in interesting times')!
Time will tell. But then again, if there's anything contractual, we will proabably be never the wiser, given the proliference of NDAs (to protect the ***** - insert word(s) of your choice). And so the reasons for whatever happens may remain a mystery - though doubtless covered by much speculation - some of which will be much closer to the mark than others (see above).
That said, it would be great to enter 2026 with mothballed fleets (either new, or those sidelined way before their time) out earning their keep, rather than becoming increasingly decrepit in storage.
Anyone care to quote the odds on that happening?
Yes I agree here. They should’ve rolled out all of the remaining 720s along with the 5 recent ones last November.
They’re better off moving the remaining units south to Willesden instead of being stored in derby for any longer.
For my bet, I’m hoping it’ll be the final 3 of the ones, 104, 141, & 143. Hasn’t 516 been down south before for testing a few years.
Last edited:
Chorley Cake
Member
- Joined
- 23 Aug 2014
- Messages
- 315
Are any of the nine visible at Derby ?
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Good question.
If they are not visible then maybe inside then more likely to be being worked on.
Out side might mean ready or no where near ready !.
How full is Derby works ?.
- I suppose just a few 730/2s left to build if any.
Are all nine at Derby ?.
- I assume so.
To recap that is :-
720104, 720141, 720143,
720503, 720504, 720505, 720510, 720516, 720534.
Bobcp
Member
720510 fully numbered and in full view from City Gate. Has been in this position since before the Christmas holiday.
Chorley Cake
Member
- Joined
- 23 Aug 2014
- Messages
- 315
Is 510 the only one visible ?
Bobcp
Member
Yes - that was the only one when I was there last Saturday morning.
Only other units to be seen were Voyagers.
Only other units to be seen were Voyagers.
Possibly all the other 8, are in the shed all completely uncoupled.
510, That could be a good clue to what will be travelling down south next.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
When is "next" ! - Getting soon I feel but cannot be sure.